MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE

2001 Regular Session

To: Agriculture

By: Senator(s) Stogner, Hyde-Smith

AN ACT TO PROVIDE A PREFERENCE FOR THE PROCUREMENT OR PURCHASE OF MEAT AND MEAT PRODUCTS PRODUCED IN THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI:

SECTION 1. (1) As used in this section, the following terms shall have the following meanings ascribed to them:

(a) "Meat" and "meat product" means beef and products made from those meats.

(b) "Other products" includes "other meat" and "other meat products" and means products which are produced, processed and harvested outside the state.

(2) Each purchasing agent shall procure or purchase Mississippi products which are equal in quality to other products, provided the cost of the Mississippi products does not exceed the cost of other products by more than seven percent (7%).

(3) In order to qualify as Mississippi products for the purpose of this section, meat and meat products shall be processed in the State of Mississippi from animals which are alive at the time they enter the processing plant.

(4) Notwithstanding any other provision of this section to the contrary, each procurement officer, purchasing agent or similar official who procures or purchases products under the provisions of this section shall procure or purchase other meat and meat products which are further processed in the State of Mississippi under the grading and certification service of the Mississippi Department of Agriculture and Commerce and which are equal in quality to other meat and meat products, provided the cost of the further processed meat and meat products does not exceed the cost of other meat or meat products by more than four percent (4%).

SECTION 2. This act shall be codified as a separate section within Chapter 7 of Title 31, Mississippi Code of 1972.

SECTION 3. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 2001.